New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-17
ON A SAND-BAR IN THE FOG
THE WISCONSIN ASHORE A FEW HOURa


LOSING HER RUDDER AND RUDDER-POsr-Tow.D
SAFELY TO SANDY HOOK.
The steamer Wisconsin, Of the Guion Linz
was ashore in the dense fog yesterday mornina
on the outer bar between Smiths Point and
Bellport, Fire Island Beach, some twenty miles
east Of Fire Island Light. There was q high
sea running at the time and for six or eight hours
the vessel was in imminent peril of poundinp to
pieces. The passengers and crew showed great
coolness, however, making no effort to
land and waiting for the high tide to float them
of. By p. m. the vessel was riding easily, and
before o'clock she drlftcd away to the south
west. with the loss merely of her rudder and
rudder-post. The tugs l. j. Merritt and Rescue,
which had been sent down to take of the mail
and passengers met her near Fire Island and the
steamship was towed up to Sandy Hook. She
will pass the bar and Quarantine this morning
and will probably reach her pier In the forenoon.
Only six of the hundred odd passengers were landed
on Fire Island Beach. They were taken off by
the surf-boat from the Smiths Point e-Sav.
ing Station and were brought to this city from
Patchogue over the Long Island Ralroad
The Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool on Feb.
ruary and was due here yesterday morning.
She was in company with the Canarder Scythis
all day Tuesday. In the dense fog which fell all
along the coast on Tuesday night she steered .
little too close to the shore for the tide then
running and fast off Bellport about 4 q. m.
The fog did not begin to lft until $40 q. m,
and shortly after that the observer in the Fire
Island lighthouse caught sight of her signals Oh
distress. They showed that she had lost hen
ruddcr and part Of her rudder-post, but was in
good condition otherwise The news was tee.
graphed to Ncw-Yorls, the two wrccking tugs
were dispatched Immediately by the Guion Line
managers, and agents were sent down the Long
Island Railroad to Patchogue to what could
be done toward getting the passengers and crew
off that way.
The steamer lay bow on in easy sight from tho
Smiths Point Station when the fog lifted. The
wind coming from the east freshly, giving
the sea angry swell, and the waves dashed
with rough violence against the vessels stern.
Plainly of the Wisconsin's boats could be
lowered in such a sea, and for more than
an hour the men from the life-saving stations
did not venture TO launch theirs. Finally Smiths
Point Station boat got alongside of the stranded
ship and Miss LeonoTa Calhoun, a cabin passenger;
Mrs. Lea, a stecrage passenger and four OF Mrs.
Ieas children were taken aboard. They were
landed near Smiths Point, taken across the
Great South Bay in fishing boat. and reached
Long Island City about p. m. They were met
there by one of the Guion Line agents. Mrs.
Lea and her four children went to Castle Garden
to wait for Mr.. Lea, who had stayed aboard
the Wisconsin with three other little Leas. Misc
Calhoun drove away in a carriage from the Thirty
fourth-st ferry.
Mrs. Lea gave her experience as followss
NV husband T. chilireD. went aboard
the Wisconsin Liverpool she sailed and had
assesers aboard About @ O'clock this morning was
by though ns saS
and rushed on deck The ships officers were very sepcs
telling the people that there danger All we had e do
on %i' my hand before face
M so % S Is Fire an % and sa a Se M % @
help from the life stations as soon as the fog itea
20 Da Strip With
sesy ana s the began 70 fear
r Ss; @ 1 se asd s 70
launch their boats and last got onsse Of us
aboard ashore We treated with great kind
Of the asH S ys ao again Soe
got back for another load.
The Wisconsin was built at Jarrow, England,
in 1870, and made her first trip TO New-Yore
in the summer Of that year. She is built oS
iron, with seven water-tight compartments: Il
37S feet long and Of 3,7O0 tons Displacement
She has met with but one other accident since she
was built, a deTangement of ler steam pipe, in
the summer OF 1871. She has been commanded
for several years by Captain Edward Bentley.
There were 425 bags of mail on the Wisconsin,
None of them were taken off by the life-savn9
boats The cargo was large one, well insured.
the North American Company having over $780,
900 in risks on part of it. There were many
injuries after passengers at the Guion Limo
office yesterday afternoon and many kilograms
were sent To PatchOgue asking after friends sup
posed to be aboard.
The tug Luckenbach started down the Day
,ome time after the Merritt and Rescue. All
three lay last night with the Wisconsin ON
sandy Hook The Nevada, Of the Guion Line,
an alongside of the Wisconsin on her way out.
,ut did not find il necessary to stoy to help the
n.urcd steamer In.